Lovell Rugby Latest News

Lovell Rugby Round Up from around the Globe #2

New Zealand finished their Tri Nations Campaign on a high after Thumping bitter Rivals Australia in Wellington on Saturday night 33-6. The All Blacks were keen to finish with a win before they play the Wallabies again in Japan for the Bledisloe cup and then tour Europe in the Autumn. The All Blacks scored 3 tries from Corey Jane, Maa Nonu and Joe Rokocoko. Dan Cater (wearing his Adidas Predator Powerswerve Rugby boots) added 16 points from the kicking tee. The Wallabies only points came from a Matt Giteau Penalty and Berrick Barnes drop goal. Australia will consider this a poor Tri-Nations after they were backed to do well after good performances against the Touring French and Italians.

Argentina have been allowed to join the tri-nations from 2012. The move has been mentioned for some years now has finally come to reality. The Puma’s, who came third in the last world cup in France, now boast some of the worlds best players and many think more regular competition from Top Class international teams could really give Argentina a massive push.

Australia will kick off their 2010 domestic season with Tests against England, Ireland and Fiji, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) announced on Monday. This year’s Tri-Nations wooden spooners will tune up for next year’s tournament by playing Fiji in Canberra on June 5, followed by back-to-back Tests against England in Perth and Sydney on June 12 and 19. Australia will then face reigning Six Nations champions Ireland in Brisbane on June 26.

Welsh Rugby Union chiefs and Wales’ professional regions have agreed a new five-year participation agreement.

The detailed document signals a breaking-out of peace – which is always only tenuous at best – between the WRU and Regional Rugby Wales, an umbrella organisation representing Cardiff Blues, the Dragons, Scarlets and Ospreys.

It follows months of frosty relations between the parties, but a deal has been brokered after detailed discussions led by WRU chief executive Roger Lewis and his RRW counterpart Stuart Gallacher.

“This agreement is a historic landmark for Welsh rugby and will help shape the future of our national game,” said Lewis.

“At its heart it gives the regions the financial security to carry out a mandate to recruit and develop Welsh international players.”

The main points include match squads for all regional games containing an average of 17 players qualified to play for Wales, while international players will be be released from their regions 13 days before a first autumn or Six Nations Test for squad training.